Electric alarm-clock



No Model.)

J. vS. WHITEHEAD. LLLCTLIC ALARM CLCCK.

No. 521,065. Patented June 5, 1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

i JOHN S. WHITEHEAD, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC ALARM-CLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 521,065, dated .Tune 5, 1894. Application filed January 2, 1894. Serial No. 495,386. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN S. WH1TEHEAD,a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Detroit, in the county of W'ayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Alarm- Clocks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention refers more particularly to that class of electric alarm clocks in which a mechanical alarm sets off simultaneously an electric alarm and the object of my invention is to provide simple and efficient means whereby an alarm clock of the usual construction may be readily combined with an electric alarm.

My invention consists in the novel arrangement of a circuit closing device consisting of an electric break formed of two self-closing metallic contacts forming part of the circuit and an insulating lever adapted to hold the break open in one position and to be moved out of said position by the operation of the mechanical alarm, the arrangement being such that the electric current is closed without passing through the clock frame.

My invention also consists in the specific combination and arrangement of the different parts whereby the device forms a simple and efficient article of manufacture, all as more fully hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front elevation of the electric alarm clock and casing. Fig. 2 is a cross section thereof on line --fc Fig. l. Fig. 8 is enlarged rear elevation of the clock. Fig. 4 is a diagram rear elevation of the clock.

A represents a mechanical alarm clock of a well known type in which B is an arm orv key secured on the rear face of the clock upon the winding arbor C of the alarm mechanism and D is the alarm bell mounted upon a post E on the top of the casing of the clock.

My invention consists in the peculiar combination of this well known type of alarm clock with an electric alarm mechanism which comprises the following parts:

F is a casing upon the top of which the clock A is supported and held in position by an upward extension G of the front wall of the casing which extension is suitably cut out to fit the clock and the form and shape of the casing F is preferably made in imitation of the casing of the well known form of mantel clock. The object of the casing is to conceal a suitable galvanic battery H in the interior and to attach to the front side the electric alarm which is of well known construction and operation and comprises the hammer I, the magnets J which operate the hammer and which are preferably protected by a suitable cover .I detachably securedin position, and the bell K secured below the magnets.

L is the movable contact and L is the iixed contact of an electric switch placed upon the front of the casing below the clock.

M and M are two metallic contacts mounted upon the clock casing and insulated therefrom by a strip O of insulating material interposed between them and the casing. The contact M is of spring metal and bent in a suitable manner so as to bear with its free end a upon the contact M which is fixed to the casing of the clock.

N and N are two binding postsin metallic connection with the contacts M and M respectively but insulated from the casing of the clock.

P is aleverof insulating materialfulcrumed at one end on top of the clock casing, preferably upon the post E which supports the alarm bell. This lever projects rearwardly between the two metallic contacts IWI M, and its free end engages with one arm of the lever Q which is fulcrumed at the back of the clock casing and the other arm of which projects in proximity to the winding arm B of the clock alarm. The lever Q may be fulcrumed if desired upon the projecting end of the setting shaft R of the clock alarm or in any other suitable manner.

The electric connections of the dierent parts are specifically shown in the diagram in Fig. 4, which shows one pole of the battery electrically connected to the binding post N and the other to the fixed contact L of the switch While the terminals of the electric IOO alarm bell are respectively connected to the binding post N and to the movable contact L of the switch.

In practice the parts being constructed and arranged as shown and described they are intended to operate as follows: By moving the lever Q into the position shown in Fig. 3 the insulating lever P will be moved into such a position as to interpose itself between the overlapping ends of the two vcontacts M M therebyholding them out of electrical contact with each other. In this position of the lever Q however, its free end is in the path of the Winding arm B and therefore if the alarm clock has its mechanical alarm set in the usual manner it will in going off revolve the arbor C and the arm B on said arbor, will therefore push the lever Q into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. In being thus pushed out of the wayit will simultane` ously carry the insulating lever P to one side and allow the spring contact M to bear directly upon the contact M as shown in Fig. 4, thus closing the electric circuit at this point. rllhebatterycircuitis thus completed (provided the switch L L has been closed) and the electric alarm will be set to ringing and continue to ring till the circuit is opened by turning the switch contact L oft from the Xed contact L. The spring M and fixed contact M thus form a self-closing section of the circuit which is normally held open by moving the insulating lever P between the overlapping ends of said contacts. The modus operandi ot' setting the electrical alarm is th us to set the mechanical alarm in the usual manner, close'the switch L L and move the arm Q into the position in which the insulating lever P breaks the battery circuit.

In winding the arbor C care must be taken to leave the arm B in a position where it will not interfere with placing the lever Q into its prescribed position shown in Fig. 3. The lever P is preferably sleeved upon the p ost E and a coil spring E is placed upon the post to produce a slight frictional resistance against its movement and prevent its accidental displacement.

My electric alarm has the advantage that Without appearing bulky and unsightly it provides ample and convenient space in the casing for a large battery jar which may furnish the necessary current for the purpose for a very long time, further, the arrangement ot' the partsis such that no part of the clock itself is used as a conductor of electricity and thus the contingency of magnetizing the springs or other portions of the clock and thereby impairing its time keeping qualities is entirely avoided. It is also a decided advantage that the circuit closing devices are in perfect plain view on the outside where their operative condition can be easily ascertained while at the same time they are so simple that persons of ordinary intelligence will be able to make use of the device Without special instruction.

What I claim as my invention isl. In an electric alarm apparatus, the combination with an ordinary alarm clock provided with an arm upon the Winding arbor of its alarm mechanism, of a battery circuit including an electric alarm, and a circuit closing device in said circuit comprising two self closing contacts adapted to form an electric continuation of the circuit, an insulating lever adapted to engage between the contacts to hold the same apart in one of its positions and a second lever adapted to move said insulating lever out of this position upon the operation of the clock alarm, substantially as described.

2. In an electric alarm apparatus, the eombination with an ordinary alarm clock provided with an arm upon the winding arbor of its alarm mechanism, of a battery circuit including an electric alarm, and a circuit closing device comprising the contacts M M adapted to form a self-closing break in the circuit, the insulating strip O interposed between said contacts and the clock casing, the insulating lever P fnlcrumed upon the clock casing and adapted to be moved'between the contacts to hold them apart and the lever-Q adapted to move said insulating lever out of said position by having one arm in the path ot the arm on the Winding arbor of the clock alarm and the other arm connected to the insulating lever, substantially as described.

3. In an electric alarm apparatus, the combination with an ordinary alarm clock provided with an alarm bell mounted upon apost on top of the clock casing and with an arm on the Winding arbor of the clock alarm, of a battery circuit including an electric alarm and a circuit closing device comprising a fixed contact M and a contact spring M mounted upon the top of the clock casing and having overlapping ends adapted to form a self closing electrical section ot' the circuit, the insulating strip O interposed between the contacts and the clock casing, the binding posts N N connecting the battery circuit with said contacts, the insulating lever P fulcrumed upon the supporting post of the clock alarm, the spring E upon said post and the lever Q pivotally secured upon the back of the clock casing and carrying the insulating lever, said lever being adapted to be actuated by the arm on the winding arbor ot' the clock alarm, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN S. WHITEHEAD.

llitnesses:

M. B. ODoeHERTY, JAB/rus WHITTEMORE.

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